Second WY elk for the year...

[Carl 9.3x62]

I love the old ones. Be curious to find out the age when you get results.

 

[Maverick1]

Not just another cow elk, pretty neat to kill one with my late Grandfather's 300 winchester. Was a miserable day to be out, but better than sitting on the couch. Saw 4 wrecks on the way to my spot, 3 on one tight corner. Thought about turning around and heading home, but by that time I figured may as well press on.

Found 3 herds of elk and the last group of 150 or so were in a good spot for me, bad spot for them.

With the wind blowing full insane today, I knew I had to get close. Glassed them and looked like I could be in business stalking up a draw. Got right on top of them, the closest ones were about 30 yards, but all bedded in a big knot, no way to not hit 2. One on the far edge finally stood up to stretch and that was a bad move. Shot was only 72 yards and one shot from Grandpa's 300 Winchester did the trick. Last time I fired that rifle was checking zero for him in the summer of 1999. Since then, my Dad has shot 3 shiras moose with it, by brother killed a shiras with it and I wanted to, but killed a moose before they got down here to help me out. Haven't adjusted the scope at all since at least the mid-90's. My brother shot it before they brought it down, dead on at 100 yards.

Not sure how old this one is, but real old. I kept a tooth to have it aged by the GF.

I think this was the last whitetail my Grandfather shot with his rifle, November of 1999, he was 84.

The elk I shot with it today:

Old cow, kept a bottom tooth to send in for aging...I'm guessing crowding 20 years old:

Ivories, or what's left of them:

Nice memories, nice elk. Good to have meat in the freezer, too. Can you clarify: you hadn't shot this rifle in 23 years and hunted with it today? No practice sessions?

 

[BuzzH]

Nice memories, nice elk. Good to have meat in the freezer, too. Can you clarify: you hadn't shot this rifle in 23 years and hunted with it today? No practice sessions?

Nope, had not shot it for 23+ years until today. My brother shot it about a month ago at 100 yards...right where I left it. We hunted western Montana primarily and my grandfather liked a 100 yard zero, maybe an inch high.

 

[ClearCreek]

I think you did the old cow a favor.

ClearCreek

 

[rmyoung1]

That’s awesome. Pretty cool, @BuzzH

 

[Duck-Slayer]

I think that’s great granny! Bet she’s put on some miles! To see the tracking data on her would be incredible. The amount of other elk that she has taught her knowledge too
Congrats btw on another one!
Matt

 

[Northwoods]

I like that picture of your Grandpa.

 

[Westelker]

Congrats! Nothing like that Wyoming wind.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Congratulations!
You did her a favor you saved her from a slow death.

 

[StuckCreek]

Nothing quite like the old rifles for old elk. Looks like it has been well kept.

 

[elkrchr]

Well done buzz! Great nostalgia taking an ancient, wise cow elk with your grandfather's rifle. Awesome memories.

 

[Drake4]

Old cow, kept a bottom tooth to send in for aging...I'm guessing crowding 20 years old:

I think you're low....23 is my guess.

 

[Big Fin]

That old gal was probably one of the two that got put on Noah's Ark. Wonder how tender she will be.

Fun to read the history/legacy points. Thanks for sharing here.

 

[jace]

Not just another cow elk, pretty neat to kill one with my late Grandfather's 300 winchester. Was a miserable day to be out, but better than sitting on the couch. Saw 4 wrecks on the way to my spot, 3 on one tight corner. Thought about turning around and heading home, but by that time I figured may as well press on.

Found 3 herds of elk and the last group of 150 or so were in a good spot for me, bad spot for them.

With the wind blowing full insane today, I knew I had to get close. Glassed them and looked like I could be in business stalking up a draw. Got right on top of them, the closest ones were about 30 yards, but all bedded in a big knot, no way to not hit 2. One on the far edge finally stood up to stretch and that was a bad move. Shot was only 72 yards and one shot from Grandpa's 300 Winchester did the trick. Last time I fired that rifle was checking zero for him in the summer of 1999. Since then, my Dad has shot 3 shiras moose with it, by brother killed a shiras with it and I wanted to, but killed a moose before they got down here to help me out. Haven't adjusted the scope at all since at least the mid-90's. My brother shot it before they brought it down, dead on at 100 yards.

Not sure how old this one is, but real old. I kept a tooth to have it aged by the GF.

I think this was the last whitetail my Grandfather shot with his rifle, November of 1999, he was 84.

The elk I shot with it today:

Old cow, kept a bottom tooth to send in for aging...I'm guessing crowding 20 years old:

Ivories, or what's left of them:

That thing looks ancient! If you can even get those bottom incisors out you should get her age with Matsons Lab. Would be really cool to get an age on that.

 

[CPAjeff]

Special cow hunt for sure - congrats! Old guns, handed down from generation to generation, are just cool!

 

[chuckchili]

Great hunt, love the old gun and picture. I'd love to think my favorite rifle was still being used by family members long after I'm gone. (Hopefully ammo will be easier to find by then! )

 

[Cornbread]

Good shot. Love the rifle. Nice group. That rifle is a keeper, for sure. Do you reload or are those factory rounds? Did she go far after being hit?

 

[samuel_284Win]

I have my grandfather's .284 Win that he passed down to me about 10 years ago. Its a one-off custom gun he created. Its a shooter. He just passed away this spring. I took my biggest mule deer with it in Nebraska. I need to get an elk with it now. Super cool to use a rifle like that Buzz

 

[brocksw]

Cool story, Buzz. I have a pre-64 winchester 30-06 of my grandfathers (not even tapped for a scope), that I've been trying to get myself to take out for a hunt. He shot his Boone and crockett whitetail with it the year I was born (1986).

Must've felt really good to take a critter with Grandpa's rifle. I like sentimental things like that though.

 

[BuzzH]

Good shot. Love the rifle. Nice group. That rifle is a keeper, for sure. Do you reload or are those factory rounds? Did she go far after being hit?

I reload for it. Back in the mid-80's I used H870 and it shot awesome. When I couldn't get that powder anymore switched to imr4831, also shoots excellent. Always shot 180 grain partitions, mostly the protected points. Elk went maybe 30 yards, about normal.